What is a Minority Group?

• Subordinate group whose members have significantly less control or power over their lives than members of a dominant or majority group.

Characteristics of a Minority Group Distinguishing physical or cultural traits, e.g. skin color or language

Unequal Treatment and Less Power over their lives

Involuntary membership in the group (no personal choice)

Awareness of subordination and strong sense of group solidarity

High In-group Marriage

Racial - Groups who are classified according to obvious physical characteristics, e.g. skin color.

- US Racial Minority Groups: Blacks, American Indian, Asian Americans, Hawaiians.

Ethnic

Groups who are differentiated on the basis of culture such as language, food US Ethnic Minority Groups: Hispanics or Latinos such as Chicanos, Puerto Ricans, Cuban; Jews are also consider cultural minorities instead of religious minorities. Racial groups can also so have distinctive cultural traditions Note: Ethnic minority can be either black or white or Asian American or Native American. So that a person can be both Black and Hispanic .

Gender

Males are a social majority; women demonstrate four out of five characteristics of minority status. There are no in-group marriages

Religion

Groups who have a religion other than the dominant faith. US Religious minorities - Muslims, Amish, Mormons, Roman Catholics